Review: Falling

 

Viggo Mortensen is the mild-mannered gay son of bigoted Lance Henriksen, an angry old man who is now plagued by cancer and dementia. He brings the old man away from the family farm to stay with him and his husband (Terry Chan) while Henriksen looks more locally for a home of his own. Unfortunately, the abusive old bastard doesn’t recall making the suggestion and is none too happy. He’s also not remotely tolerant of his son’s same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, we get flashbacks to when Henriksen was a younger man and frankly no nicer in disposition. Gabby Velis plays Mortensen and Chen’s adopted daughter, whilst Laura Linney turns up as Henriksen’s daughter, whose family Henriksen is every bit as hostile around. Illness or not, the guy’s an unrepentant arsehole.

 

Viggo Mortensen makes his directorial debut with this 2021 dementia drama, which he also produced, scripted, and co-stars in. Mortensen’s parents both had dementia, so the material here obviously meant something to him. My family has been touched by the same awful disease, so I’m emotionally invested in the issue too. Unfortunately, I was not emotionally invested in this rather small film, despite it being a showcase for what an untapped resource Lance Henriksen has been all these years. He’s terrific, and Mortensen himself is well-cast and very understated (though his best moment is when he finally explodes and unleashes on the miserable, angry old bastard).

 

The film is clichéd, talky, and old-hat. I wasn’t the biggest fan of “The Father”, a film about some of the same subjects but at least that story was told in a unique way. This is more safe, simple, and low-key, not to mention one-note and repetitive. After a while it felt like misery without much point or value. I also didn’t appreciate the flashbacks, you’re never convinced that Henriksen and the guy in the flashbacks are the same person. I did like Laura Linney as the daughter, though. It’s not her best work but she’s well-cast as someone used to putting on a happy face while her brain-addled, angry father rants and raves.

 

This isn’t all that much of a film, despite a worthy subject and committed cast. Mortensen might make a good director one day, but he hasn’t chosen terribly good material to begin that career behind the camera. Lance Henriksen fans will need to see it, all others need only apply if you’re out of other options. If you’ve seen “The Father” and “Affliction”, you’ve already seen what this film has to offer.

 

Rating: C+